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US6490705B1 Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Method and apparatus for receiving MPEG video over the internet

Assignee: Nokia of America Corp
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Filing: 1998-10-22
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Granted: 2002-12-03
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Expires: 2018-10-22
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Abstract

Abstract In order to transmit an inter-frame coded video signal, such as an MPEG-coded video signal, over a packet-based network such as the Internet, the video signal associated with at least one video frame, is split (102, 402) into a high priority partition and a low priority partition. A systematic forward error erasure/correction (FEC) code (108), such as a Reed Solomon (n,k) code, is then applied to bytes in the high priority partition. The forward error/erasure corrected high priority partition bytes and the low priority partition bytes are then combined (110) into n packets for transmission over the packet network to a receiver/decoder. Each of the n transmitted packets contains a combination of both high priority partition data bytes and low priority partition information bytes. In k of those packets the high priority partition data bytes are all high priority partition information bytes and in n-k of those packets all the high priority partition data byte are parity bytes produced by the FEC coding. More specifically, for each high priority partition byte position within the n packets, the forward error/erasure correction code is applied using one high priority partition information byte from the same byte position in each of those k packets to determine n-k parity bytes, which are arranged, one byte per packet, in the n-k packets containing high priority partition parity bytes. If up to n-k packets are lost in transmission over the packet network to the receiver (500, 600), then the high priority partition bytes in such lost packets can be recovered to applying FEC decoding (506) to the high partition bytes in the received packets. The most visually significant information is thus protected against packet loss over the network.

Inventors

  • 👤 Jill MacDonald Boyce

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 12:39
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N19/00; H04N19/65; H04N19/66; H04N19/30

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 57
Claim 1
Independent Claim 229 words
A method of decoding a compression-coded video signal that has been packetized and transmitted over a packet-based network in a sequence of packets that are associated with at least one frame of the compression-coded video signal, the method comprising the steps of: receiving packets associated with the at least one frame of the compression-coded video signal, each of the received packets containing both low priority partition information bytes and forward error/erasure correction (FEC)-coded high priority partition data bytes associated with the at least one frame of the compression-coded video signal, the compression-coded video signal having been split into low priority and high priority partitions before being packetized and transmitted; determining which transmitted packets associated with the at least one frame of the video sequence have not been received; applying a FEC decoding to the FEC-coded high priority partition data bytes in the received packets to determine high priority partition information bytes associated with the at least one frame, the step of applying a FEC decoding reconstructing high priority partition information bytes in those packets determined not to have been received; combining the received low priority partition information bytes and the decoded and reconstructed high priority partition information bytes; and decompression-decoding the combined received low priority partition information bytes and the decoded and reconstructed high priority partition information bytes to reproduce the at least one frame of the video signal.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 229 words
A method of decoding a compression-coded video signal that has been packetized and transmitted over a packet-based network in a sequence of packets that are associated with at least one frame of the compression-coded video signal, the method comprising the steps of: receiving packets associated with the at least one frame of the compression-coded video signal, each of the received packets containing both low priority partition information bytes and forward error/erasure correction (FEC)-coded high priority partition data bytes associated with the at least one frame of the compression-coded video signal, the compression-coded video signal having been split into low priority and high priority partitions before being packetized and transmitted; determining which transmitted packets associated with the at least one frame of the video sequence have not been received; applying a FEC decoding to the FEC-coded high priority partition data bytes in the received packets to determine high priority partition information bytes associated with the at least one frame, the step of applying a FEC decoding reconstructing high priority partition information bytes in those packets determined not to have been received; combining the received low priority partition information bytes and the decoded and reconstructed high priority partition information bytes; and decompression-decoding the combined received low priority partition information bytes and the decoded and reconstructed high priority partition information bytes to reproduce the at least one frame of the video signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 12 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the packet-based network is the Internet.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 52 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the received FEC-coded high priority partition data bytes are coded with a systematic forward error/erasure correction code, the received FEC-coded high priority partition data bytes comprising a combination of the high priority partition information bytes associated with the at least one frame and associated parity bytes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 42 words
The method of claim 3 wherein each received packet has an equal length, the high priority partition data bytes in each received packet comprising either all high priority partition information bytes associated with the at least one frame or all parity bytes.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 35 words
The method of claim 4 wherein an equal number of low priority partition information bytes are in each received packet and an equal number of high priority partition data bytes are in each received packet.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 116 words
The method of claim 5 wherein for each high priority byte position associated with the received packets, high priority partition information bytes in the same high priority byte position from each received packet containing high priority partition information bytes, one byte per packet, are associated with at least one parity byte in the same byte position in one or more received packets containing parity bytes, the FEC decoding being applied to the high priority partition information bytes and associated at least one parity byte at each high priority byte position, one byte position at a time, to determine high priority partition information bytes in each high priority byte position in a packet that was not received.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 24 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the FEC-coded bytes are coded with a Reed Solomon code and the FEC decoding uses Reed Solomon decoding.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 66 words
The method of claim 6 further comprising the steps of: determining the number of packets (n) in which the at least one frame of the compression-coded video signal has been packetized and transmitted; and determining of the n transmitted packets, the number of packets (k) transmitted containing both high priority partition information bytes associated with the at least one frame and low priority partition information bytes.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 14 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the FEC decoding uses Reed Solomon (n,k) decoding.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 42 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the received packets associated with the at least one video frame of the video signal are protected against a packet loss over the packet-based network of high priority partition information bytes in up to (n-k) packets.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 17 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the step of decompression decoding the video signal uses MPEG decoding.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 187 words
A decoder for decoding a compression-coded video signal that has been packetized and transmitted over a packet-based network in a sequence of packets that are associated with at least one frame of the compression-coded video signal, the decoder comprising: a depacketizer connected to receive packets associated with the at least one frame of the compression-coded video signal, each of the received packets containing both low priority partition information bytes and forward error/erasure correction (FEC)-coded high priority partition data bytes associated with the at least one frame of the compression-coded video signal, the compression-coded video signal having been split into low priority and high priority partitions before having been packetized and transmitted, the depacketizer separating the FEC-coded high priority partition data bytes and the low priority partition information bytes; a FEC decoder connected to receive and decode the FEC-coded high priority partition data bytes; and a video decompression decoder connected to receive the depacketized low priority partition information bytes and the FEC-decoded high priority partition data bytes, the video decompression decoder combining and decompression-decoding the low priority partition information bytes and the FEC-decoded high priority partition data bytes.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 187 words
A decoder for decoding a compression-coded video signal that has been packetized and transmitted over a packet-based network in a sequence of packets that are associated with at least one frame of the compression-coded video signal, the decoder comprising: a depacketizer connected to receive packets associated with the at least one frame of the compression-coded video signal, each of the received packets containing both low priority partition information bytes and forward error/erasure correction (FEC)-coded high priority partition data bytes associated with the at least one frame of the compression-coded video signal, the compression-coded video signal having been split into low priority and high priority partitions before having been packetized and transmitted, the depacketizer separating the FEC-coded high priority partition data bytes and the low priority partition information bytes; a FEC decoder connected to receive and decode the FEC-coded high priority partition data bytes; and a video decompression decoder connected to receive the depacketized low priority partition information bytes and the FEC-decoded high priority partition data bytes, the video decompression decoder combining and decompression-decoding the low priority partition information bytes and the FEC-decoded high priority partition data bytes.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 12 words
The decoder of claim 12 wherein the packet-based network is the Internet.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 49 words
The decoder of claim 12 wherein the FEC-coded high priority partition data bytes are coded with a systematic FEC code, the received FEC-coded high priority partition data bytes comprising a combination of the high priority partition information bytes associated with the at least one frame and associated parity bytes.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 42 words
The decoder of claim 14 wherein each received packet has an equal length, the high priority partition data bytes in each received packet comprising either all high priority partition information bytes associated with the at least one frame or all parity bytes.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 34 words
The decoder of claim 15 wherein an equal number of low priority partition information bytes are in each received packet and an equal number of high priority data bytes are in each received packet.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 114 words
The decoder of claim 16 wherein for each high priority byte position associated with the received packets, high priority partition information bytes in the same high priority byte position from each received packet containing high priority partition information bytes, one byte per packet, are associated with at least one parity byte in the same byte position in one or more received packets containing parity bytes, the FEC decoder decoding the high priority partition information bytes and associated at least one parity byte at each high priority byte position, one byte position at a time, to determine high priority partition information bytes in each high priority byte position in a packet that was not received.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 24 words
The decoder of claim 17 wherein the FEC-coded bytes are coded using a Reed Solomon code and the FEC decoding uses Reed Solomon decoding.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 67 words
The decoder of claim 17 further comprising a processor, the processor: determining the number of packets (n) in which the at least one frame of the compression-coded video signal has been packetized and transmitted; and determining of the n transmitted packets, the number of packets (k) transmitted containing both high priority partition information bytes associated with the at least one frame and low priority partition information bytes.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 14 words
The decoder of claim 19 wherein the FEC decoding uses Reed Solomon (n,k) decoding.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 42 words
The decoder of claim 19 wherein the received packets associated with the at least one video frame of the video signal are protected against a packet loss over the packet-based network of high priority partition information bytes in up to (n-k) packets.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 14 words
The method of claim 17 wherein the step of decompression decoding uses MPEG decoding.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 236 words
A decoder for decoding a compression-coded video signal that has been packetized and transmitted over a packet-based network in a sequence of packets that are associated with at least one frame of the compression-coded video signal, the decoder comprising: means for receiving packets associated with the at least one frame of the compression-coded video signal, each of the received packets containing both low priority partition information bytes and forward error/erasure correction (FEC)-coded high priority partition data bytes associated with the at least one frame of the compression-coded video signal, the compression-coded video signal having been split into low priority and high priority partitions before being packetized and transmitted; means for determining which transmitted packets associated with the at least one frame of the video sequence have not been received; means for applying a FEC decoding to the FEC-coded high priority partition data bytes in the received packets to determine high priority partition information bytes associated with the at least one frame, the means for applying a FEC decoding reconstructing high priority partition information bytes in those packets determined not to have been received; means for combining the received low priority partition information bytes and the decoded and reconstructed high priority partition information bytes; and means for decompression-decoding the combined received low priority partition information bytes and the decoded and reconstructed high priority partition information bytes to reproduce the at least one frame of the video signal.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 236 words
A decoder for decoding a compression-coded video signal that has been packetized and transmitted over a packet-based network in a sequence of packets that are associated with at least one frame of the compression-coded video signal, the decoder comprising: means for receiving packets associated with the at least one frame of the compression-coded video signal, each of the received packets containing both low priority partition information bytes and forward error/erasure correction (FEC)-coded high priority partition data bytes associated with the at least one frame of the compression-coded video signal, the compression-coded video signal having been split into low priority and high priority partitions before being packetized and transmitted; means for determining which transmitted packets associated with the at least one frame of the video sequence have not been received; means for applying a FEC decoding to the FEC-coded high priority partition data bytes in the received packets to determine high priority partition information bytes associated with the at least one frame, the means for applying a FEC decoding reconstructing high priority partition information bytes in those packets determined not to have been received; means for combining the received low priority partition information bytes and the decoded and reconstructed high priority partition information bytes; and means for decompression-decoding the combined received low priority partition information bytes and the decoded and reconstructed high priority partition information bytes to reproduce the at least one frame of the video signal.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 12 words
The decoder of claim 23 wherein the packet-based network is the Internet.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim 52 words
The decoder of claim 23 wherein the received FEC-coded high priority partition data bytes are coded with a systematic forward error/erasure correction code, the received FEC-coded high priority partition data bytes comprising a combination of the high priority partition information bytes associated with the at least one frame and associated parity bytes.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim 42 words
The decoder of claim 25 wherein each received packet has an equal length, the high priority partition data bytes in each received packet comprising either all high priority partition information bytes associated with the at least one frame or all parity bytes.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim 35 words
The decoder of claim 26 wherein an equal number of low priority partition information bytes are in each received packet and an equal number of high priority partition data bytes are in each received packet.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim 116 words
The decoder of claim 27 wherein for each high priority byte position associated with the received packets, high priority partition information bytes in the same high priority byte position from each received packet containing high priority partition information bytes, one byte per packet, are associated with at least one parity byte in the same byte position in one or more received packets containing parity bytes, the FEC decoding being applied to the high priority partition information bytes and associated at least one parity byte at each high priority byte position, one byte position at a time, to determine high priority partition information bytes in each high priority byte position in a packet that was not received.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim 24 words
The decoder of claim 28 wherein the FEC-coded bytes are coded with a Reed Solomon code and the FEC decoding uses Reed Solomon decoding.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim 66 words
The decoder of claim 28 further comprising processing means for: determining the number of packets (n) in which the at least one frame of the compression-coded video signal has been packetized and transmitted; and determining of the n transmitted packets, the number of packets (k) transmitted containing both high priority partition information bytes associated with the at least one frame and low priority partition information bytes.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim 16 words
The decoder of claim 30 wherein the forward error/erasure correction decoding uses Reed Solomon (n,k) decoding.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim 42 words
The decoder of claim 30 wherein the received packets associated with the at least one video frame of the video signal are protected against a packet loss over the packet-based network of high priority partition information bytes in up to (n-k) packets.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim 17 words
The decoder of claim 28 wherein the means for decompression decoding the video signal uses MPEG decoding.
Claim 37
Independent Claim 339 words
A method of decoding a compression-coded video signal that has been packetized and transmitted over a packet-based network in a sequence of packets that are associated with at least one frame of the compression-coded video signal, the method comprising the steps of: receiving packets associated with the at least one frame of the compression-coded video signal, each of the received packets containing both forward error/erasure correction (FEC)-coded high priority partition data bytes that have been coded with a systematic FEC code, and low priority partition information bytes associated with the at least one frame of the compression-coded video signal, the compression-coded video signal having been split into high priority and low priority partitions before having been packetized and transmitted; determining which transmitted packets associated with the at least one frame of the video sequence have not been received; applying a FEC decoding to the FEC-coded high priority partition data bytes in the received packets to determine high priority partition information bytes associated with the at least one frame, wherein for each high priority byte position associated with the received packets, high priority partition information bytes in the same high priority byte position from each received packet containing high priority partition information bytes, one byte per packet, are associated with at least one parity byte in the same byte position in one or more received packets containing parity bytes, the step of applying a FEC decoding further comprising applying a FEC decoding to the high priority partition information bytes and associated at least one parity byte at each high priority byte position, one byte position at a time, to reconstruct high priority partition information bytes in each high priority byte position in a packet that was determined not have been received; combining the received low priority partition information bytes and the decoded and reconstructed high: priority partition information bytes; and decompression-decoding the combined received low priority partition information bytes and the decoded and reconstructed high priority partition information bytes to reform the at least one frame of the video signal.
Claim 38
Independent Claim 339 words
A method of decoding a compression-coded video signal that has been packetized and transmitted over a packet-based network in a sequence of packets that are associated with at least one frame of the compression-coded video signal, the method comprising the steps of: receiving packets associated with the at least one frame of the compression-coded video signal, each of the received packets containing both forward error/erasure correction (FEC)-coded high priority partition data bytes that have been coded with a systematic FEC code, and low priority partition information bytes associated with the at least one frame of the compression-coded video signal, the compression-coded video signal having been split into high priority and low priority partitions before having been packetized and transmitted; determining which transmitted packets associated with the at least one frame of the video sequence have not been received; applying a FEC decoding to the FEC-coded high priority partition data bytes in the received packets to determine high priority partition information bytes associated with the at least one frame, wherein for each high priority byte position associated with the received packets, high priority partition information bytes in the same high priority byte position from each received packet containing high priority partition information bytes, one byte per packet, are associated with at least one parity byte in the same byte position in one or more received packets containing parity bytes, the step of applying a FEC decoding further comprising applying a FEC decoding to the high priority partition information bytes and associated at least one parity byte at each high priority byte position, one byte position at a time, to reconstruct high priority partition information bytes in each high priority byte position in a packet that was determined not have been received; combining the received low priority partition information bytes and the decoded and reconstructed high: priority partition information bytes; and decompression-decoding the combined received low priority partition information bytes and the decoded and reconstructed high priority partition information bytes to reform the at least one frame of the video signal.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim 43 words
The method of claim 34 wherein each packet has an equal length and an equal number of low priority partition information bytes are in each packet and an equal number of high priority partition information bytes or parity bytes are in each packet.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim 24 words
The method of claim 35 wherein the FEC-coded bytes are coded with a Reed Solomon code and the FEC decoder uses Reed Solomon decoding.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim 66 words
The method of claim 35 further comprising the steps of: determining the number of packets (n) in which the at least one frame of the compression-coded video signal has been packetized and transmitted; and determining of the n transmitted packets, the number of packets (k) transmitted containing both high priority partition information bytes associated with the at least one frame and low priority partition information bytes.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim 14 words
The method of claim 37 wherein the FEC decoding uses Reed Solomon (n,k) decoding.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim 42 words
The method of claim 37 wherein the received packets associated with the at least one video frame of the video signal are protected against a packet loss over the packet-based network of high priority partition information bytes in up to (n-k) packets.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim 17 words
The method of claim 34 wherein the step of decompression coding the video signal uses MPEG decoding.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim 319 words
A decoder for decoding a video signal for transmission over a packet-based network comprising: means for receiving packets associated with the at least one frame of the compression-coded video signal, each of the received packets containing both forward error/erasure correction (FEC)-coded high priority partition data bytes that have been coded with a systematic FEC code, and low priority partition information bytes associated with the at least one frame of the compression-coded video signal, the compression-coded video signal having been split into high priority and low priority partitions before having been packetized and transmitted; means for determining which transmitted packets associated with the at least one frame of the video sequence have not been received; means for applying a FEC decoding to the FEC-coded high priority partition data bytes in the received packets to determine high priority partition information bytes associated with the at least one frame, wherein for each high priority byte position associated with the received packets, high priority partition information bytes in the same high priority byte position from each received packet containing high priority partition information bytes, one byte per packet, are associated with at least one parity byte in the same byte position in one or more received packets containing parity bytes, the means for applying a FEC decoding applying a FEC decoding to the high priority partition information bytes and associated at least one parity byte at each high priority byte position, one byte position at a time, to reconstruct high priority partition information bytes in each high priority byte position in a packet that was determined not have been received; means for combining the received low priority partition information bytes and the decoded and reconstructed high priority partition information bytes; and means for decompression-decoding the combined received low priority partition information bytes and the decoded and reconstructed high priority partition information bytes to reform the at least one frame of the video signal.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim 319 words
A decoder for decoding a video signal for transmission over a packet-based network comprising: means for receiving packets associated with the at least one frame of the compression-coded video signal, each of the received packets containing both forward error/erasure correction (FEC)-coded high priority partition data bytes that have been coded with a systematic FEC code, and low priority partition information bytes associated with the at least one frame of the compression-coded video signal, the compression-coded video signal having been split into high priority and low priority partitions before having been packetized and transmitted; means for determining which transmitted packets associated with the at least one frame of the video sequence have not been received; means for applying a FEC decoding to the FEC-coded high priority partition data bytes in the received packets to determine high priority partition information bytes associated with the at least one frame, wherein for each high priority byte position associated with the received packets, high priority partition information bytes in the same high priority byte position from each received packet containing high priority partition information bytes, one byte per packet, are associated with at least one parity byte in the same byte position in one or more received packets containing parity bytes, the means for applying a FEC decoding applying a FEC decoding to the high priority partition information bytes and associated at least one parity byte at each high priority byte position, one byte position at a time, to reconstruct high priority partition information bytes in each high priority byte position in a packet that was determined not have been received; means for combining the received low priority partition information bytes and the decoded and reconstructed high priority partition information bytes; and means for decompression-decoding the combined received low priority partition information bytes and the decoded and reconstructed high priority partition information bytes to reform the at least one frame of the video signal.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim 43 words
The decoder of claim 41 wherein each packet has an equal length and an equal number of low priority partition information bytes are in each packet and an equal number of high priority partition information bytes or parity bytes are in each packet.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim 24 words
The decoder of claim 42 wherein the FEC-coded bytes are coded with a Reed Solomon code and the FEC decoding used Reed Solomon decoding.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim 67 words
The decoder of claim 42 further comprising a processor, the processor: determining the number of packets (n) in which the at least one frame of the compression-coded video signal has been packetized and transmitted; and determining of the n transmitted packets, the number of packets (k) transmitted containing both high priority partition information bytes associated with the at least one frame and low priority partition information bytes.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim 14 words
The decoder of claim 44 wherein the FEC decoding uses Reed Solomon (n,k) decoding.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim 42 words
The decoder of claim 44 wherein the received packets associated with the at least one video frame of the video signal are protected against a packet loss over the packet-based network of high priority partition information bytes in up to (n-k) packets.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim 17 words
The decoder of claim 41 wherein the means for decompression decoding the video signal uses MPEG decoding.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim 55 words
The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of providing to the step of decompression-decoding the low priority partition information bytes and the high priority partition information bytes, information indicating which low priority partition information bytes are missing as a result of having been transmitted in a packet determined not to have been received.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim 34 words
The decoder of claim 17 wherein the video decompression decoder is provided with information indicating which low priority partition information bytes are missing as a result of being transmitted in a packet not received.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim 51 words
The decoder of claim 28 wherein the means for decompression-decoding the low priority partition information bytes and the high priority partition information bytes is provided with information indicating which low priority information bytes are missing as a result of having been transmitted in a packet determined not to have been received.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim 55 words
The method of claim 34 further comprising the step of providing to the step of decompression-decoding the low priority partition information bytes and the high priority partition information bytes, information indicating which low priority partition information bytes are missing as a result of having been transmitted in a packet determined not to have been received.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim 51 words
The decoder of claim 41 wherein the means for decompression-decoding the low priority partition information bytes and the high priority partition information bytes is provided with information indicating which low priority information bytes are missing as a result of having been transmitted in a packet determined not to have been received.

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